Rope

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rope!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th June 2025

Well seeing as it's pride month....

It is an interesting thing with approaching Alfred Hitchcock's filmography: he produced so many movies and a large of them have gone down as classics that it is difficult to pick between them. And as such, a number of his films can slip through the cracks. 
It seems to me that this title is one such movie: Well regarded but nowhere near the likes of Psycho or The Birds. Still should be worth a look...

Maybe it's just me it seems this movies reputation, at least from modern audiences, lies in the fact that the two murderers here are clearly a gay couple. Certainly daring for the time (1948) but that does overshadow the technical achievements of the movie: Its constructed out of ten minute takes. It is impressive that it was done, that Hitchcock had the gall to do it and it suits the story's origins as a stage play well. 
At the end of the day though this was an experiment and whether or not Hitchcock succeeded is up to debate (one could make the argument that the homosexual overtones were far more interesting). Still, this is compelling and it's fun to see The Master branch out and try something different.

All the Kings Men

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... All the King's Men!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th March 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 22 (1949)

I was drawn to this one as it tells a story that would sound familiar to modern audiences: A lawyer makes the leap into politics where he appeals to the common man. Utilising claims that he represents their interests, the politician goes from strength to strength but it isn't long before he starts getting his hands dirty.

For a movie made in 1949 this is hasn't aged and is still relevant (unfortunately). It was even quite ballsy for the time, having elements that I wouldn't have expected from a movie of this era. And it is equally surprising that a movie of this nature would've won Best Picture at the Oscars.
But what makes this movie particularly interesting is the unclear nature of the protagonist: Was he a good man seduced by corruption of power? Or was he already a bad man whose intent truly came out when success came? And that's what makes this movie shine.

Hamlet

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Hamlet!

Original image located here. Accessed 8th March 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 21 (1948)

 I recall watching the Academy Awards on TV back in 1998. It was the seventieth anniversary year so, as part of the broadcast, a montage was shown of previous Best Picture winners. Many of these winners were new to me and I saw plenty of names I recognised. But one standout was the 1948 winner: An actual adaptation of a Shakespeare play.
This was a major surprise to me because the Academy didn't strike me as the kind who would honour such an adaptation. This is compounded by the fact that, as anyone who has adapted Shakespeare will tell you, the challenge presented by Shakespeare is taking material that has been performed countless times before and putting a new spin on it. 
Needless to say, when I started this year-long project, this was one movie I was keen on seeing - moreso considering that this featured Laurence Olivier, quite possibly the greatest Shakespearean actor ever lived, in the title role. And director. And producer. 

And what Olivier does is approach the title with that of a horror movie. There are plenty of shadows, towering sets, lots of fog, and striking angles, all building up to an astonishing atmosphere. And even the Ghost is the most frightening interpretation that I have ever seen.
Other highlights are Jean Simmons' performance of Ophelia, nailing the moment where she goes insane, Patrick Troughton (yes, THAT Patrick Troughton) as the Player King, the handling of Claudius' character and the final duel. But in the end, it's Olivier's show and he delivers in spades.
Certainly a surprise to see a Shakespeare adaptation win the Best Picture Oscar but it seems it was a well-deserved winner.

The Best Years of Our Lives

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Best Years Of Our Lives!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st March 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 19 (1946)

Last month I watched Mrs Miniver so it's fitting I should watch this. That's because both films share the same director, William Wyler, and both have the same DNA. Whereas Mrs Miniver was a film made during World War II and focuses on the civilian life during the war, The Best Years of Our Lives was made after the war and focuses on the lives of three servicemen as they adjust to the aftermath. 
Well, you can't accuse the Academy for not lauding films that tackle topical narratives.

I assume it would be safe to say that this movie perfectly described the feelings and mood of people in the aftermath of World War II. And if this movie exists to function as a document of that time period then it is well and truly successful. It is, if anything, honest and challenging - pretty much all that a great movie needs to do. 

The Lost Weekend

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Lost Weekend!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd February 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 18 (1945)

There's been this joke circulating that winning the Best Picture Oscar is guaranteed if one makes a movie about someone trying to overcome some sort of personal struggle. To that end, the blame for such a trend can be laid on the shoulders of this movie that depicts a guy fighting a losing battle with alcoholism and alienating those around him. 

The difference is however that this movie still packs a punch decades later and still sets a standard that many of it's imitators can't hope to reach. It certainly isn't easy to watch, being a harrowing experience with sprinkles of dark humour, but it certainly is a compelling one. 
It's also a rare instance that, when they feel like it, the Academy can take a risk and reward a challenging movie. Wish they did it more often...

Mrs Miniver

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mrs Miniver!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th February 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 15 (1942)

In recent years I've heard complaints that the Oscars are being too political. Such a notion never made such sense to me as it would seem that they have always been political. Such was the case with this movie as it was a made during a major worldwide event - that being World War II.

So what we have here is a family, and a community, being effected by the War. Of course, this subsequently comes across as being a propaganda piece. Nevertheless, there are some moments of note: The tension from the pilot scene, the character development and the finale in the church. 
It may have been dull in places but it seems that it's humane approach is what makes it succeed.

How Green Was My Valley

And this week's Friday night movie has been... How Green Was My Valley!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th February 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 14 (1941)

I'm over a month into this year-long undertaking and already something has become clear: The Best Picture Oscars are not necessarily awarded to the best movies, more what was popular at the time.
Having said that I will never understand the hate that Shakespeare in Love gets. Are people really salty that it achieved an upset victory over Saving Private Ryan? And going by that logic, do people hate Moonlight for winning over La La Land?
So what has the above got to do with this movie? Well folks, it's the one that beat out Citizen Kane for the Best Picture Oscar.

Sadly this one didn't do much for me. The trials and tribulations of a Welsh mining town may sound like potential for a compelling narrative but it simply didn't connect with me. Maybe it's because the movie is showing it's age, or maybe the portrayal of the Welsh as singing drunks or maybe it's how depressing life as a Welsh miner really is.
Am I missing something here?
Oh well...

Rebecca

    And this week's Friday night movie has been... Rebecca!

Original image located here. Accessed 2nd February 2024

Best Picture Oscar winner no.: 13 (1940)

To say that Alfred Hitchcock was one of the greatest filmmakers ever lived is a statement that goes without question. However such status doesn't necessarily translate into Oscar success. Hitchcock never won the Oscar for Best Director and only one of his films got the top award. 
And this is it.

I've seen several Hitchcock movies so I am well aware of what to expect. And this one delivers: Excellent cast, moody imagery, suspense, creeping paranoia, shadows and a gothic setting all round. 
Mind you, this is quite a ballsy choice for Best Picture winner: Thrillers/horror movies never really do well, let alone one with a lesbian subtext. But given the source material, accompanied by a master director and producer who knew what he was doing makes for an unstoppable force.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Yankee Doodle Dandy!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th June 2022

Another trip to the classics, with this flick hailing all the way from 1943. I first heard of this movie over twenty years ago when I read of it in a book. There, it said that the lead, James Cagney, took a departure from the gangster roles that made him famous to playing a biopic of theatre giant George M Cohan. This intrigued me: On paper it seemed like a great way to a) dodge typecasting and a way to show one's versatility. In fact, could you do something like that now? Like say, John Travolta going from a dancing guy to a tough g......never mind.
More recently, I watched a DVD Kiera has detailing the history of Broadway and I came to know who George M Cohan was. So I guess now is a good time as any.

Given this is a film that's nearly eighty years old, it would be easy to dismiss it for it's age. And while it may be dated in places, the strength of this movie purely lies in telling the story of Cohan's life . Sure it may be easy to dismiss any biopic for inaccuracies, but it does do an effective job of showing a life lived and introduces a lot of his music. And some of his music I did recognise even if they were adapted for AFL Team theme songs.
So yeah as a celebration of both Broadway and the life of a man who revolutionised it, this film still holds up.
And of Cagney? Well, he scored an Oscar for Best Actor, he singled out this movie as his favourite performance and apparently came up with the tap-dancing routines on the spot.
And I don't doubt him in the slightest.

It's a Wonderful Life

And this week's Friday night movie has been... It's a Wonderful Life!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th December 2021

Okay so I'm cheating as I have already seen this movie.
And it may be easy to bag this movie as being flogged to death at Christmas time, being replicated many times since (what if...?) and being required viewing for people struggling with self-worth.

But you know what? Both such observations and the passage of time has done little to diminish the power of this movie. Indeed, if this film has been revisited many times over the years, over many a Christmas, it is for a very good reason.
And yes, i will admit it did indeed leave a personal resonance
I mean how can you not with that final scene?!

Sullivan's Travels

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Sullivan's Travels!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th August 2021

I will admit I have watched a lot of classic (as in pre-New Hollywood/1968) movies in recent months. But this is because that a lot of movies made recently are very much dour and socially conscious - one only needs to take a glance at the last lot of Academy Award nominees for Best Picture to see what i mean. Therefore, it should come to no surprise that i would come across this: A 1941 movie telling the story >of a filmmaker who wants to eschew making comedies in favor of making a socially conscious movie.

The march of time should be against this movie but it isn't. It is still funny, with witty dialogue, crazy situations and providing a solid case that slapstick can still work in 2021. Also impressive is how this movie switches gears and tackles a variety of movie genres throughout.
However it is of particular fascination that we have a character that wants to be serious but has to contend with a world that is working against him - I have seen this done many times before but here it works a treat.
I've never been sold on the narrative of: 'protagonist tries something new, only to fail and go back to old life' (and that's putting it lightly) but here it works. So it's a funny thing: A movie that came out eighty years ago, and has no doubt been replicated many times since, still has some bite that put's it progeny to shame. How about that....

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Treasure of the Sierra Madre!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th June 2021

Its difficult to assess a classic movie like this (classic as in pre-New Hollywood era). The problem being? Much has been written about such movies in the decades since their release that it's difficult to come up with something new. Indeed, if people are still talking about Shrek in 2021, it would be interesting to see if they will have something new to say about in 2051.

In all honesty, there's not a lot I can say about this movie: It's a fascinating study of paranoia, greed and seeing how these three guys are playing off each other. Everyone involved here - particularly actors Humphrey Bogart and Walter Huston and Director John Huston - are at the top of their game.
And it is noteworthy of having the "laughter of the Damned' at the end: The kind of laughter one has borne of the frustration of trying to make some headway in the world but not succeeding (a laughter i know all too well).

Lady From Shanghai

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Lady From Shanghai!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th December 2020

Once again I am watching a movie from the pre-New-Hollywood era: in this case, from 1947. Nothing wrong with that - but in this case, I have been wanting to see this because there's a story attached.

You see apparently, this movie originally ran for three hours but the director, Orson Welles, was forced to cut it down to half that running time. The missing portion has since been lost to time and the movie has suffered for it.

With this in mind, watching The Lady From Shanghai is an odd experience. The narration is strongly placed, the flow is jarring and there are moments that may have required additional scenes. Welles have been attempting to do something different with film noir - admirable seeing as he was working with the limitations of what he had - but he doesn't quite pull it off successfully. Still it has it's moments: Not least of which is the final showdown in a hall of mirrors (oft-imitated but never bettered).

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Miracle on 34th Street (1947)!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th December 2019

Well it's that time of year....
I think we all know this one: An elderly gentleman is hired as a store Santa and shows signs he genuinely believes he is the man himself - all of which leads to a court case.
For a movie over seventy years old this certainly holds up well. Sure there's some interest value in seeing a young Natalie Wood but really the movie itself rests on the shoulders of Edmund Gwenn.
Much like the character he plays, he shows Santa the way we expect him to: Kindly, empathetic towards children, multilingual, knowledgeable of toys and trying to see the best in everyone.
Indeed, there is a reason why this has been a beloved Christmas classic for many years. And now I know